St John the Baptist, White Ladies Aston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids St John the Baptist, White Ladies Aston |
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St John the Baptist, White Ladies Aston
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| 52°10′21″N 2°06′55″W / 52.17255°N 2.11534°W | |
| Location | White Ladies Aston |
| Country | England |
| Denomination | Church of England |
| History | |
| Dedication | St John the Baptist |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Grade II* listed |
St John the Baptist is an old church located in White Ladies Aston, England. It is a very important building, recognized as a Grade II* listed building by Historic England. This means it's a special historic place worth protecting.
The church has roots going all the way back to the year 1204. At that time, a man named Robert de Everay gave two horses to the Bishop of Worcester. This gift allowed Robert to choose a new vicar for the area. He also planned to build a church made of stone. Today, that stone church still stands, topped with a wooden spire. The main entrance, called a doorway, is from the Norman period. The font, used for baptisms, is likely from the 1200s.
In 1255, the area was renamed White Ladies Aston. This was because of its connection to Whistones Priory, a home for Cistercian Nuns. These nuns received land and other gifts from the church. However, the church's ties with the White Ladies ended in 1536. This was when Whistones Priory was closed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. This big change was ordered by King Henry VIII as England shifted from being Roman Catholic to Protestant.
The oldest wooden parts of the church's tower and spire are from the 1400s. In 1410, a new bell was bought for the church.
During the 1600s, a time known as the English Civil War, many new religious groups appeared. This caused some trouble, even at St John the Baptist church. In 1652, the church's leader, John Moseley, was removed because of his sermons against the Quakers. Later, in 1656, another person named Robert Brown caused problems in the church. In 1661, a different leader was removed for supporting the Commonwealth. This happened when King Charles II was brought back to power.
The Reverend Henry Martyn Sherwood served the church for a very long time, from 1839 to 1910. He was one of the longest-serving vicars in the Church of England. He helped make many improvements in the village. He expanded the church, helped with education, and improved roads. He also helped create the Parish Room for the community.
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Restoring the Church
In 1848, the church was in poor condition. One description mentioned "broken glass" and a thick wall separating parts of the church. The pews, where people sat, were so tall that they blocked the view of others.
Big building work was finished in 1861. A whole new North Aisle and Vestry were built. The old stonework and timbers were completely fixed. New pews were put in, and the church could now seat 155 people, up from 73. An avenue of 22 Yew Trees was planted along the path to the church. Each tree represented a year that Rev. Sherwood had been the Vicar. Money for this work came from donations and a grant.
A large donation for the repairs came from Mr. Perrins of Worcester. This was to honor a long-standing family promise. Mr. Perrins' grandfather owned a chemist's shop. He made an Indian Sauce from a recipe given by a housekeeper in 1812. This sauce became the famous Worcestershire sauce, known worldwide. Captain Sherwood, the vicar's father, bought a bottle and suggested Mr. Perrins sell it. He did, with Mr. Lea, and their company, Lea & Perrins, became very successful. Mr. Perrins' father had promised a reward to Captain Sherwood's son, the Rev. Sherwood. This offer was made every year but was always politely turned down until this time.
Later, a new porch was added in 1864. In 1938, a new East Window was installed. Repairs were completed on the wooden spire in 1985.
What the Church Looks Like
The church is in a quiet churchyard, north of the village. You reach it by walking along a path lined with yew trees. You enter through a wooden porch from 1864, which leads to a Norman doorway on the south side. The western wooden tower has a tall, elegant spire. The main timbers of this spire are very old, dating back to around 1545. The roof of the chancel (the area near the altar) is a bit lower than the main part of the church. On the north side, there's an aisle built in 1861, with a vestry next to it.
Inside, the church feels bright and welcoming. The walls are painted a light cream color. The arches inside are made of alternating light and dark stone. The tower is supported by large wooden beams and an iron column. Between the arches, there are decorative carvings, one of which is dated 1861, marking the year of the big restoration.
The windows in the chancel are old Norman style, with rounded tops. The windows on the south side of the church are later, with square tops. The west wall has two tall, narrow windows. There are also two windows on the north side.
Inside the Church: Special Features
Most of the church's furniture, like the seats, are from the 1861 restoration. The pulpit, where the preacher stands, is made of wood with diamond-shaped panels. A book stand from an older, taller pulpit still hangs on the wall nearby.
The font, used for baptisms, has twelve sides. Its exact age is unknown, but it's thought to be from the Middle Ages. It has nicely carved designs on its sides. There's also damage where old locks used to be, which suggests it could be locked when not in use.
Memorial Tablets
During the 1700s, England became a powerful country, fighting wars around the world. People from White Ladies Aston took part in these events. Some of these individuals and their lives are remembered on special plaques, called memorial tablets, inside the church.
- Captain Thomas Elrington died in 1809 at 87 years old. He served in the army for 65 years! He fought in the "45 Jacobite Rebellion" and the Seven Years' War (1756–63) in North America.
- Richard Goodall Elrington was born in White Ladies Aston in 1776. He became a Major-General in 1841. He joined the army at just 14 years old during the French Revolutionary War. He fought in battles all over the world.
- Major General John Montresor Pilcher was born in 1783. He married Elizabeth Mary Elrington, Captain Thomas Elrington's daughter. He was involved in many naval events between 1801 and 1815. He was even present when Napoleon died on St. Helena.
- Hamilton Thomas Gordon was born in 1836. He became a Lieutenant in 1855 with the East India Company. He died in Calcutta, India, at the age of 24.
A special plaque in the North Aisle of the church remembers villagers from White Ladies Aston who died in the Great War (World War I). Four names are listed: David Gould, William Edwin Judd, Daniel Pearce, and William Henry Shuck.
- On July 7, Corporal David Gould, aged 31, was killed in action. He was part of the Worcestershire Regiment and was fighting near the Somme. David worked on a farm in White Ladies Aston and had volunteered to join the army.
- William Judd died on January 9, 1917, at the age of 23. His parents, Owen and Mary Judd, lived in the village.
- The last 100 days of World War I were very hard for White Ladies Aston.
- On August 29, 1918, Second Lieutenant Hamilton Stanley Sherwood, aged 19, was killed. He was the grandson of the long-serving Reverend Sherwood.
- On September 3, Henry John Page, who was connected to the village, was killed in France at 22.
- On October 8, Daniel Pearce, aged 22, was killed in France.
- On October 30, William Henry Shuck, aged 30, was killed in Beirut.
